The Poison Control Center

SEPTEMBER 22 – BAZOOKA BAZOOKA, BINGHAMTON, NY [SHOW #88]

Day 105.  25,331 miles.  Had the most scenic drive today to Binghamton.  We took a ferry across Lake Champlain, and on it we sat behind a trailer of cattle, who were looking back at us with their large black eyes and beautiful lashes.  We drove down the windy roads through Adirondack Park, past the lakes and cabins.  We arrived in the college town of Binghamton in the early evening where it was wet and muggy outside.  Bazooka Bazooka is an apartment building housing a dozen student who have been putting on occasional shows on the ground floor.  One of the tenants, Mike, had prepared a huge lasagna and pasta dinner for the bands, and it sure hit the spot.  “This is the first hot plate of food I’ve had since Don’s wedding,” I told the others.

We met up for the final time with Tera Melos.  The past few shows we’ve shared with them had been such a rush that we didn’t have much time to visit and hang out together, but tonight we had more time.  Our friend Masha once again came from Rochester to see us play, and it was great to have a familiar face amongst us.  We also met two nice students who had driven up from Pennsylvania named Erich and Lauren.  Erich was bleeding excitement, for this was his first time getting to see Tera Melos, his very favorite band he told us.  Local openers Womyn Boiz started off the night, and we followed second.  The room was stuffy, hot and packed.  By the end of the set we were drenched with sweat.  One young crowd member grabbed the setlist from the floor in front of Patrick, and the paper was soaked from the sweat that had been pouring from Patrick’s face during the show.  The other local act, The Austin 3:16-Agers, played third and Tera Melos (pictured) closed the night to a charged and sweltering audience that was moshing throughout.  I was in the room for a majority of the set, but had to move back into the next room for some air and watch the remainder from a distance.  I was laughing at a drunk guy in orange and yellow camouflage pants who could barely stand, and he was being thrown around by all the dudes in the crowd like a basketball.

The jam in the van:  The Mothers of Invention Freak Out! / Studs Terkel Interviews / RadioLab Laughter / The Beach Boys Pet Sounds / The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

The word we heard:  “Is this a Guitar Hero mic?” –Devin

The pets we met:  Hobbs / Blue

Dinner was a winner:  Mike

Sound Tech we respect:  Devin

Sticks, strings and broken things: Patrick – 1 A string / Devin: - 1 D string

The fill of the bill:  Womyn Boiz / The Austin 3:16-agers / Tera Melos

David  you’ll be like Frampton, only sober, when the show in Binghamton is over